Nandicius Prószyński, 2016,

Prószyński, Jerzy, 2016, Delimitation and description of 19 new genera, a subgenus and a species of Salticidae (Araneae) of the world, Ecologica Montenegrina 7, pp. 4-32 : 25-26

Gen. Nandicius Prószyński, 2016 , gen. n.

Removed from the genus Pseudicius Informal group of genera CHRYSILLINES

Figures 6I–J , 9E–J

Type species. Phintella mussooriensis Prószynski, 1992 .

Documentation studied. Comparative diagnostic drawings of 10 species in Prószyński (2016a) and original literature.

Etymology. Name combines name of the Nanda Devi National Park and Icius , grammar gender assumed masculine.

Diagnosis. Nandicius differs strikingly from Pseudicius and related genera by the absence of subocular row of stridulatory bristles on protuberances and tibia I not modified.

Male palpal organ resembling Chrysilla Thorell, 1887 and Phintella Bösenberg & Strand, 1906 , embolus base has a form of thin, soft layer laying diagonally over bulbus, narrowing anteriorly and producing anterior embolus short, claw-like and sclerotized. Only the antero-lateral angle of spermophor is visible. Tibial apophysis variable, biramous with ventral ramus thin and gently bent (in N. pseudicioides even twisted "S" like), dorsal ramus robust, but in some species modified into a short lobe, or even reduced to a vestigial tooth ( Figs. 9F, I ).

Female. Epigyne with prominent oval depression medially, there is a pair of translucent pockets, spaced at the posterior rim of epigyne, which is somewhat bent anteriorwards, copulatory opening located medially, in the mid-length of epigyne. Spermathecae resembling some Pseudicius , with spermathecae slightly elongate oval, set transversally or parallel to main axis, with distal part elongate and duct like, ducts sclerotized, semiarching ( Figs. 6J , 9E, H–J ).

Body small and fragile, not flattened or elongated, with brown pattern on whitish background Fig. 6I ). Legs whitish, legs I not strikingly longer or more robust than legs II-IV.

More diagnostic documentation – see at: http://www.peckhamia.com/salticidae/q6-Nand.html.

Remark. Taxonomic position of Nandicius (known to me from old type specimens and a series of drawings of unidentified species from Central Asia) remained enigmatic for 30 years, because of mixture of poorly understood characters resembling other, unrelated genera. The breakthrough is due to photographs received from Miss Shazia Quasin, of a species with epigyne almost identical with the drawings of epigyne, made in 1980s ( Figs. 6J , 9E ). These structures, with the simultaneous absence of Pseudicius -like features, could be accommodated only by erection of a new genus.

Distribution. Central Asia, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan.

Composition. The following species are transferred from genus the Pseudicius Simon, 1885 : Nandicius cambridgei (Prószynski & Żochowska, 1981) comb. n., N. deletus (Pickard-Cambridge O., 1885) comb. n., N. frigidus (Pickard-Cambridge O., 1885) comb. n., N. mussooriensis (Prószynski, 1992) comb. n., [syn. Phintella m.], N. pseudoicioides (Caporiacco, 1935) comb. n., N. szechuanensis Logunov, 1995 ) comb. n., N. sp. [ Bhutan] Prószynski [unpublished], N. 2 sp [Shazia]) [unpublished] Shazia Quasin, 2011.

Figures

Figure 6. Color photos of diagnostic characters and habitus of new genera: A – C – Psenuc sp. [from Australia]: row of subocular stridulatory bristles on tubercles, flattened body and palp; D – Logunyllus univittatus; E – F - Logunyllus vittatus, male and female; G – H – Orienticius vulpes, female and male; I – J – Nandicius: sp from Nanad Devi National Park – key photos by Miss Shazia Quasin, matching habitus appearance with the internal structure of epigyne (compare also Fig. 9E). Photos by: A – C – ©R. Whyte; D – E – ©J. Lissner; G – H – ©Kyoto Ogata; I – J – ©Shazia Quasin. By courtesy.

Figure 9. Diagnostic characters of new genera: A – B – Marusyllus hamifer: male palp, internal structure of epigyne, spermatheca (enlarged) dorsal and ventral views; C – D – Logunyllus albocinctus; E – Nandicius: sp from Nepal, internal structure of epigyne (compare also Fig. 9E); F – H – N. mussooriensis: male palp, leg I of female and male (note row of stridulatory microsetae on femur I, but tibia I not modified) epigyne and its internal structure; I – J – N. pseudicioides: male palp and internal structure of epigyne; K – M – Orienticius vulpes: male palp, epigyne and its internal structure. Drawn by J. Prószyński in Annales zoologici:A – D 1968 26: 430-435, Figs 78-84; C – D –1968 26: 463-466, Figs 136-137, 143; E –unpublished (shown in Prószyński 2016a, b); F– H–1992a: 44: 101-102, f 54-55, 57- 59; I – J –1984: 37: 374, Figs 63-68; K – M 1971: 28: 220-223, Figs 30-36. By courtesy.